Tractor.



H. M.'LEONARD.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. a1. 1918.

1,293,815. Patented Feb. 11,1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1- k WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

H. M. LEONARD.

TRACTOR. APPLICATION FILED IAN- 3h I918. 1,293,815. Patented Feb. 11,1919-.

' 4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

H. M. LEONARD.

WITNESSES: IN VEN TOR.

HOWAQD "l- LEO/YARD A TTORNE YS.

H. M. LEONARD.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31. I918.

1,293,81 5. Patented Feb. 11, 191% 4 SHEETSSHEET 4- A TTORN E YS.

v UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

HOWARD M. LEONARD, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

TRACTOR.

Application filed January 31, 1918.

To (/71 whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, Howano M. LEONARD, a citizen of the I nited States,residing at Jackson, county of Jackson, State of Michigan, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Tractors, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tractors.

My present improvements relate particularly to the four wheel/drive typeof tractors illustrated in my application for Letters Patent filed Feb.2. 1917, Ser. No. 146,118.

Themain objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an improved driving mechanism for the steering wheels.

Second. to provide an improved driving mechanism for the steeringwheels, whi-h are so disposed as to constitute, in effect, asinglecentrally disposed traction wheel.

Third, to provide an improved driving mechanism for tractors which isefi'ectively incased or inclosed.

F art-her objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing. forming a part of this specifi-ation, in which:

Figure I is a plan view of the rear por tion of my improved tractor withcertain details and parts omitted.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the front portion thereof with certain detailsand parts omitted entirely or partially broken away.

Fig. II is a detail side elevation of the rear portion of my improvedtractor shown in Fig. I.

Fig. II is a detail side elevation of the front portion of my improvedtractor shown in Fig. II.

Fig. III is a detail view partially in vertical section on a linecorresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. I. Fig. II. and Fig. IV.

Fig. IV is a detail view partially in mm cal longitudinal section on aline corresponding to line 44 of Fig. III.

Specification of Letters Patent.

a bearing for the shaft 2:2.

Patented Feb. 11,- 1919.

Serial No. 214,612.

Fig. Y is a detail view partially in section on a line correspoiuling toline 55 of Fig. III.

Fig. VI is a detail section on a line corresponding to line (3-45 ofFig. III.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views. and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing. I provide a running gear frame comprising sidemembers 1 connected by cross bars 2. At the front end the frame isprovided with a cross member 3 constituting a support for the fronttraction wheels -l-, as will be hereinafter described.

The rear traction wheels 5 are mounted on the axle (3. The mounting ofthe axle and driving connections for the traction wheels being made thesubject matter of an application filed concurrently herewith, Ser. No,214.613, are not described in detail herein. 1

The axle T of the front traction wheels 4. is carried by the yoke-likestandard 8 having a vertical spindle 9 arranged in bearing 10 carried bythe cross member 3.

bushing 11 is provided for the hearing 10.

A roller thrust bearing 1:2 is provided at the lower end of the bearing10 or between it and the standard steering gear 13 is secured to thestandard in the structure illustrated. the gear being formed to receivethe thrust bearing 12.

pinion 1-l is mounted on the shaft 15 to mesh with the gear 13. ()n theupper end of this shaft 15 is a gear 16 with which the worm 17 on thesteering shaft 18 meshes. This steering shaft 15 is provided with asteering wheel 19 at its rear end in position to be operated by theoperator occupying the seat 20. The gears 10 and 17 are inclosed by agear box 21.

The spindle of the wheel standard is hollow to receive a spindle shaft'22. The cap plate 10' of the bearing 10 is provided with The upper endof the shaft 22 is further supported by a bearing designated generallyby the numeral 23 carried by the gear box .24. The lower end of theshaft 22 is supported by the shafting hearing 25 at the lower end of thestandard spindle.

At its upper end the shaft 22 is provided with a beveled gear 2 meshingwith a gear 27 on the propeller shal't 2% .\t its lower end the spindleshal t is provided with a heveled gear 2 meshing with the heveleddriving gear 30 ot' a ditt'erential driving means. desigi'iatedgenerally h the numeral 31. This ditl'erential driving means is inelosed in a housing or gear hox 12. whieh is eonneeted with the hox otthe hearing 25. The ditl'erential shatts 3 5 are provided with piuionsEH- whieh mesh with the internal gears 3.") seemed to the traetion wheelhubs 4-2. The outer huh memhers l are l\'e ved to the inner or main huhmembers 42 h v keys 4. The eaps 50 are seeured to the hubs h v theserews 51. a paelting 52 heing provided to prevent the est-ape ot'lnhrieant around the axle. The outer ends of these difierential shaftsare supported h v liearings Pitt ea1 ried lrv the housing memhers ZJsupported hr the axle T. These plates have hraeltets its earrvinghearings It! disposed on the inner sides ot thepinions 4. The housingmemhers 37 have peripher:l flanges ltl. On the e flanges are elosureplates -l1 having eentral openings to reeeive the huhs 42 of thetraetion \\llt'tl. the plates 41 heing provided with paelv'ings 43")ahout the huhs.

With the parts thus arranged the hearing and driving parts are entirelvinelosed and proteeted. wliieh is a t'eature ot ver v great advantage inttaetors and like struetures used for plowing. harrowing. and llht work.

The motor l-l is eonventionall v shown. as is also the driving eluteh l5thereof. The motor ll and transmission in are mounted upon a t'rame l7.whieh is in turn mounted upon the main l'rame. As the mounting of thisl'rahe 47 forms no part ol m v present invention. it is not furtherdeserihed herein.

The driving shat't l8 is provided with suitahle universal joints as airalso the trout propeller shaft 2S and the rear propeller shaft ill. Thevol e-lilte wheel standard 5 is ehannel shaped in eross seetion. Thesteering gear 1 rests thereon and is provided with a rih lilting intothe ehannel. therelrv providing a ver v strong eonneetion tor the gearto the standard.

I pre'l erald) emplo the transmission Show i m eopending applieation.tiled (lot. 13. lull. h'er. No. Il iJil i. and as the details thereol'torm no part of m v present invention the v are not illustrated ordeserihed herein.

With the parts arranged as l have illustrated and de erihed. I provide astrueture in whieh the wheel pindle is \'el' etl eetivelx' supported towith tand the heavv strains to whit-h it is sulijeeted.

l have not attempted in the aeeompan ing drawing to maintain therelative proportion of the parts. and various parts are showneonventioiially. Xeither have I at' tempted to illustrate or deseriheeertain modilieations or embodiments whieh I eontemplate. as l helievethe diselosure made will enahle those "skilled in the art to whit-h nrvinvent ion relates to emhodv or adapt the same as may he desirahle undervarying eonditions.

Having thus deserihed m v invention. what I elaim as new and desire toseeure v Letters Patent. is: i

1. In a traetor. the eomhination ot' a running gear lrame. avol\'e-lil\'e standard provided with a hollow spindle. a hearing forsaid spindle earried by said frame. an axle earriedv l) v said standard.traetion wheels mounted in eloserelation upon said axle hetnveen thearms of the standard. a spindle shatt disposed longitudinallv ot saidspindle to projeet hetween said traetion wheels and provided with a gearat its upper end. a eap plate lor said spindle hearing provided with ahearing l'or said spindle shat't helow said gear thereon. a propellershaft having a gear meshing with said gear on said spindle shat't. agear liox inelosing the upper end of said spindle sha'l't and said gearsand provided wit-ha hearing for the upper end of said shalt. a shuttinghox tor the lower end ol' said shat't mounted at the lower end ol' saidspindle. a tlillerential means eomprising dillerential shat'ts disposedhetween said traetion wheels and having ditl'erential driving eonneetionwith said spindle shaft. a gear hox for said ditl'erential meansprovided with hearings for said ditlerential shafts and eonneeted tosaid shatting hox. gears on said traetion wheels. pinions on saiddill'erential sliat'ts meshing with said gears on said traetion wheels.housing memhers mounted on said axle to emhraee said traetion wheelgears and pinions provided with hearings for said ditl'erential shal'ts.said housing memhers having annular shoulders thereon. eollars mountedon said di tl'erent ial gear hox to emhraee the said shoulders ol saidhousing memhers. and elosure plates for theouter ends of said housingmemhers emhraeiug the huhs of the traetion wheels.

3. In a traetor.'tl|e eomhination ot' a running gear frame. a yoke-likestandard provided with a hollow spindle. a hearing for said spindleearried h v said frame. an axle arried h said standard. traction wheelstnonnted in elose relation upon said axle ht tween the arms of thestandard. a spindle sha'l't disposed longitudinally of said spindle toprojeet he'tween said traetion wheels. a shal'ting hox for the lower endof said shalt mounted at the lower end ot said spindle. a dill'erentialmeans eomprising dill'erential shal'ts disposed hetween said traetionwheels and having differential driving connection with said spindleshaft. a gear box for said differential means provided with bearings forsaid differential shafts and tfOlHlOt'fttl to said shafting box. gearson said traction wheels. pinions on said differential shafts meshingwith said gears on said traction wheelshousing members mounted on saidaxle to embrace said traction wheel gears and pinions provided withbearings for said differential shafts. said housing members havingannular shoulders thereon. collars mounted on said differential gear boxto embrace the said shoulders of said housing members. and closureplates for the outer ends of said housing members embracing the hubs ofthe traction wheels.

3. In a tractor. the combination of a runmng gear frame. a volte-liltestandard pro- I vided with a hollow spindle. a bearing for said'spindlecarried by said frame. an axle carried by said standard, traction wheelsmounted in close relation upon said axle between the arms of saidstandard. a spindle shaft disposed longitudinally of said spindle toproject betweensaid traction wheels and provided with a gear at itsupper end. a cap plate for said spindle bearing provided with a bearingfor said spindle shaft below said gear thereon. a propeller shaft havinga gear meshing with said gear on said spindle shaft. a gear boxinclosing the upper end of said spindle shaft and said gears andprovided with a bearing for the upper end of said shaft. :1 shafting boxfor the lower end of saidshaft mounted at the lower end of said spindle.a differential means comprising differential shafts disposed betweensaid traction wheels and having differential driving connection withsaid spindle shaft. a gear box for said differential means provided withbearings for said differential shafts and connected to'said shaftingbox. gears on said traction wheels. pinions on said differential shaftsmeshing with said gears on said traction wheels. and housing membersmounted .on said axle to embrace said traction wheel gears and pinionsprovided with bearings for said differential shafts.

4. In a tractor. the combination of a running gear frame. a yoke-likestandard provided with a hollow spindle. a bearing for said spindlecarried by said frame. an axle carried b v-said standard. tractionwheels mounted in close relation upon said axle between the arms of thestandard. a spindle shaft disposed longitudinally of said spindle toproject between said traction wheels. :1 shafting box for the lower endof said shaft mounted atv the lowe'r end of said spin dle. adifferential means comprising differ ential shafts disposed between saidtraction wheels and having differential driving con- Ilecflon with saidspindle shaft." a gearbox for said differei'itial means provided withbearings for said differential shafts and connected to said shaftingbox. gears on said traction wheels. pinions on said differential shaftsmeshing with said gears on said traction wheels. and housing membersmounted on said axle to embrace said traction wheel gears and pinionsprovided with bearings for said differential shafts.

5. In a tractor. the combination of a running gear frame. a yoke-likestandard provided with a hollow spindle. a bearing for said spindlecarried by said frame. an axle carried by said standard. traction wheelsmounted in close relation upon said axle between the arms of thestandard. a spindle shaft disposed longitudinally of said spindle toproject between said traction wheels. :1 shafting box for the lower endof said shaft mounted at the lower end of the s )lIKllt. a difi'erentialmeans comprising differential shafts disposed between said tractionwheels and having differential driving connection with said spindleshaft. a gear box for said differential means provided with bearings forsaid differential shafts and connected to said shafting box. gears onsaid traction wheels, pinions on said differential shafts meshing withsaidg'ears on said traction wheels. and housing n-iembers mounted onsaid axle to eml'iraee said traction wheel gears and pinions providedwith bearings for said differential shafts disposed at each side of saidpinions thereon.

(3. In a tractor. the combination of a running gear frame, a vokeslikestandard provided with a hollow spindle. a bearing for said spindlecarried by said frame. an axle carried by said standard. tractionwheelsmounted in close relation upon said axle between the arms of thestandard, a spindle shaft disposed longitudinally of said spindle toproject between said traction wheels. a shafting box for the lower endof said shaft mounted at the lower end of said spindle. a 1 differentialmeans comprising differential shafts disposed between said tractionwheels and having differential driving connection with said spindleshaft. a gear box for said differential means provided with bearingsforsaid differential shafts and connected to said shafting box. gears onsaid traction wheels. pinions on said differential shafts meshing withsaid gears on said traction wheels. and housing members mounted on saidaxle to embrace said traction wheel gears and pinions provided withbearings for said differential shafts.

T. In a tractor. the combination of a running gear frame. a yoke-likestandard provided with a hollow spindle. a bearing for said spindlecarried by said frame. an axle carried by said standard. traction wheelsmounted upon said axle between the arms of the standard. a spindle shaftdisposed longitudinallv of said spindle to project between said tractionwheels and provided with a gear at its upper end, a propeller shafthaving a gear meshing withsai|d gear on. said spindle shaft, adifferential means comprising differential shafts disposed between saidtraction wheels and having differential driving connection with saidspindle shaft, :1 gear box for said differential means provided withbearings for said differential shafts, gears on said traction wheels.pinions on said differential shafts meshing with said gears on saidtraction wheels, housing members mounted on said axle to embrace saidtraction wheel gears and pinions provided with bearings for saiddifferential shafts. disposed at each side of said pinions thereon, andsteering means comprising a gear secured to said standard spindle.

8. In a tractor, the combination of a running gear frame. a yoke-likestandard provided with a hollow spindle. a bearing for saidspindlecarried by said frame, an axle carried by said standard. tractionwheels mounted upon said axle between the arms of the standard. aspindle shaft disposed longitudinally of said spindle to project betweensaid traction wheels and provided with a gear at its -upper end. apropeller shaft having a gear meshing with said gear on said spindleshaft. a differential means comprising differt-mtial shafts disposedbetween said traction wheels and having dif ferential driving connectionwith said spindle shaft, gears on said traction wheels. pinions on saiddifferential shafts meshing with said gears on saidtraction wheels,housing members mounted on said axle to embrace said traction wheelgears and pinions provided with bearings for said differential shafts.and steering means comprising a gear secured to said standard spindle.

t). In a tractor. the combination of a running gear frame, a standardprovided with a hollow spindle. a bearing for said spindle carried bysaid frame. an axle carried by said standard. traction wheels mountedupon said axle, a spindle shaft disposed longitudinally of said spindleto project between said traction wheels, a differential means comprisingdifferential shafts disposed between said traction wheelsand havingdifferential driving connection with said spindle shaft. a gear box forsaid differential means. gears on said traction wheels, pinions on saiddifferential shafts meshing with said gears on saidtraetion wheels.housing members mounted on said axle to embrace said traction wheelgears and pinions. said housing members having annular shouldersthereon, collars mounted on said differential gear box to embrace thesaid shoulders of said housing members, and closin'eplates for the outerends of said housing members embracing the hubs of the traction wheels.

10. Ina tractor, the combination of a run ning gear frame, a standardprovided with a hollow spindle, a bearing for said spindle carried bysaid frame, an axle carried by said standard, traction wheels mountedupon said axle. a spindle shaft disposed longitudinally of said spindleto project between said traction wheels. a differential means comprisingdifferential shafts disposed between said traction wheels and havingdifferential driving connection with said spindle shaft, a gear box forsaid differential means. gears on said traction wheels. pinions on saiddifferential shafts meshing with said gears on said traction wheels,housing members mounted on said, axle to embrace said traction wheelgears and pinions. and clo sure plates for the .outer ends of. saidhousing members embracing the hubs of the traction wheels.

11. In a tractor, the combination of a rnnning gear frame, a standardprovided with a hollow spindle. a bearing for said spin dle carried bysaid frame, an axle carried by said standard, traction wheels mountedupon said axle, a spindle shaft disposed longitudinally of said spindleto project between said traction wheels, a ('lifferential meanscomprising differential shafts disposed between said traction wheels andhaving differential driving connection with said spindle shaft. a gearbox for said differential means, gears on said traction wheels. pinionson said differential shafts meshing with said gears'on said tractionwheels. housing members mounted on said axle to embrace said tractionwheel gears and pinions, said housing members having annular shouldersthereon, and collars mounted on said differential gear box to embracethe said shoulders of said housing members.

12.111 a tractor. the combination of a running gear frame. a standardprovided with a hollow spindle. a bearing for said spindle carriedbysaid frame. an axle carried' by said standard, traction wheels mountedupon said axle, a spindle shaft disposed longitudinally of said spindleto pro ject between said traction wheels. a differential meanscomprising differential shafts disposed between said t action wheels andhaving differential driving connection with said spindle shaftia gearbox for said differential means, gears on said traction wheels, pinionson said differential shafts meshing with said gears on said tractionwheels, and housing members mounted on said axle to embrace saidtraction wheel gears and pinions.

13. In a tractor, the combination of a yoke-like standard provided witha spindle. an axle supported by the arms of said standard, tractionwheels mounted upon said axle between the arms of said yoke. a spindleshaft, disposed through said spindle to posed between the same andhaving driving connection with saidjspindle, and housing members mountedon sald axle at each slde of sand differential drivmg means to receivethe differential shafts and provided withbearings therefor.

14. In a tractor, the combination of a yoke-like standard provided witha spindle, an axle supported by the arms of said standard, tractionwheels mounted upon said axle between the arms of said yoke, a spindleshaft disposed through said spindle to project between said tractionwheels, a differential driving means for said wheels disposed betweenthe same and shaving driving connection with said spindle, and

housing members mounted at each side of said differential driving meansto receive the difierential shafts and provided with bearings therefor,

15. In a tractor, the combination with a yoke-like standard of channelcross section provided with a spindle, steering wheel carried by saidstandard, and a steering gear disposed on said standard concentricallyof said spindle and provided with a rib engaging the channel of saidyoke.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two witnesses.

HQWARD M. LEONARD. [1 s.]

Witnesses:

CLARENCE W. MARTIN, HOWARD G. LEONARD.

